JP2005264943A - Swash plate type compressor with swash plate tilted at given angle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a swash plate type compressor which is not complicated. <P>SOLUTION: The compressor generally includes a housing; a drive shaft situated in the housing; and a swash plate mounted at a given angle to the axis extending in the direction of the length of the drive shaft. In an embodiment, a swash plate part is coupled to a second inside swash plate part through a bearing. In other embodiment, the swash plate is coupled directly to the drive shaft through a bearing. The bearing is designed to absorb both loads in the radial direction and the axial direction of the compressor to exclude the need for a different thrust bearing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating a compressed fluid, and more particularly to a swash plate compressor that maintains a predetermined angle by reducing the number of required bearing bodies.

  A swash plate compressor is a generally known technique. These compressors typically have a cylinder block attached to the drive shaft and having a plurality of piston passages. A plurality of pistons are slidably disposed in the piston passage and connected to a swash plate attached to the drive shaft. As the drive shaft rotates, the swash plate rotates, causing the piston to reciprocate in the piston passage, thereby alternately repeating the suction and compression strokes.

  These compressors are disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,099,059, working bodies having an inclined surface below the surface of the swash plate disclosed in Patent Document 1, parts of rotating and non-rotating plates disclosed in Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3. Various mechanisms are used that utilize the rotating force of the drive shaft that rotates the swash plate, such as a rotatable cylinder block.

  As the swash plate rotates, the piston reciprocates in the piston passage of the cylinder block, alternately drawing in fluid and compressing it into the passage, followed by compressing and delivering the fluid. In this way, the rotational force of the drive shaft is converted into the axial force of the piston, allowing the piston to perform alternately suction and compression functions, whereby fluid is first drawn into the piston passage and then And is sent out from the piston passage.

  However, one challenge with these swash plate compressors is that swash plate compressors are typically difficult and expensive to manufacture for several reasons. First, because the drive shaft to which the swash plate is attached rotates, and because the swash plate is connected to a piston located in a piston channel in the cylinder block, the compressor is typically In particular, it requires some complex parts to absorb these competing relationships of rotation and non-rotation. Even if an advanced bearing body, such as that described in US Pat. No. 5,677,400, is utilized, the operating mechanism disclosed therein must still be used in order for the swashplate to function properly.

In addition, due to the nature and function of the compressor swashplate, the swashplate must always carry radial and axial loads as a result of simultaneous rotational movement of the swashplate and axial movement of the piston. receive. Therefore, as in the design disclosed in US Patent Application 2001/0008607, these swashplate portions need to use both radial and thrust bearings.
US Pat. No. 6,439,857 US Pat. No. 5,626,463 US Pat. No. 5,394,698

  What is desired is a swash plate compressor that is inexpensive to manufacture. What is also desired is a swash plate compressor that is easy to assemble. What is further desired is a swash plate compressor that minimizes the amount of bearing required.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an uncomplicated swash plate compressor.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a swash plate compressor that does not require a swash plate actuation mechanism.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a swash plate compressor that does not require separate radial and thrust bearings.

  To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to achieve at least some of the listed objectives and advantages, the present invention provides a housing, a drive shaft disposed within the housing, and a longitudinal direction of the drive shaft. An inner swash plate portion attached to the drive shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to the inner shaft, an outer swash plate portion connected to the inner swash plate portion, and the outer swash plate portion. A compressor including a bearing body coupled to the plate portion, wherein the bearing body absorbs both a radial load and an axial load of the swash plate portion;

  In another embodiment, the present invention includes a housing, a drive shaft disposed in the housing, and a swash plate coupled to the drive shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. And a compressor that includes a bearing body that couples the swash plate to a rotating shaft so that the bearing body absorbs both a radial load and an axial load of the swash plate.

  In another embodiment, a housing having at least one piston passage, a drive shaft disposed in the housing, a swash plate coupled to the drive shaft, and a swash plate coupled to each other in an operation direction. At least one piston that is inclined at an angle with respect to and disposed in the at least one piston passage, and a bearing body that couples the swash plate to the drive shaft, The angle inclined with respect to the operation direction of the at least one piston has a predetermined angle even by the rotation of the drive shaft, and the bearing body carries both the radial load and the axial load of the swash plate. Includes a compressor designed to absorb.

  In another embodiment, the present invention provides a housing, a drive shaft disposed in the housing, and an inner side attached to the drive shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. A compressor including an outer swash plate portion connected to the inner swash plate portion, and an angular contact bearing connecting the outer swash plate portion to the inner swash plate portion.

  In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a housing, a drive shaft disposed in the housing, and a slant attached to the drive shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft. And a compressor including an angular contact bearing connecting the plate and the swash plate to the drive shaft.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A basic configuration of one embodiment of a swash plate compressor 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. As used in the description, the terms "top", "bottom", "up", "down", "over top", "over bottom", "on top", "bottom" `` Under '', `` up '', `` down '', `` above '', `` below '', `` front '', `` back '', `` forward '' and `` backward '' It means an object that is meant for a direction depicted in a diagram that does not require a direction to achieve an objective.

  Typically, the compressor 10 includes a body 12, a rear mounting cover 14 and a front mounting flange 16. In use, the compressor 10 is installed in a vehicle such as a long haul truck and generates compressed air for a vehicle pressure system that includes a tank that supplies the compressed air to various equipment such as a brake system. To do. This generation of compressed air begins by obtaining air regardless of whether it is supplied from a turbocharger (not shown) in response to a decrease in air pressure below the reference pressure in the air system. . However, in the embodiments described herein, the fluid is air, and in certain embodiments the fluid may include various gases, liquids, or combinations thereof.

  The basic configuration of one embodiment of the main body 12 of the compressor 10 is shown in FIG. The body 12 includes a swash plate housing 20 that defines a swash plate chamber 22 therein and a stationary cylinder block attached to the housing 20. The drive shaft 40 exists through both the housing 20 and the cylinder block 26 and is rotatable there. The swash plate 24 is disposed in the swash plate chamber 22 and attached to the drive shaft 40. The plurality of pistons 30 are connected to the swash plate 24, and the cylinder block 26 has a plurality of piston passages 32 for receiving the pistons 30. Piston 30 can reciprocate in piston passage 32 to create a suction and compression stroke.

  Each piston 30 has a surface 31 that contacts the air to be compressed. Therefore, the compression chamber 34 is formed in a state where the piston surface 31 is exposed from the space in the piston passage 32. A compression chamber 34 in fluid communication with the air system obtains compressed air, compresses the air, and then pumps out the air. Thus, the air pressure in the compression chamber 34 corresponds to the air pressure in the air system and ensures a pressure balance of the compressor 10, as further described below.

  Typically, the body of the compressor 10 further includes a compressor top 18 mounted adjacent to the cylinder block 26. The top of the compressor has a suction passage 80 and a discharge passage 82 that both communicate with the compression chamber 34. In order to regulate the suction of uncompressed air from the suction passage 80, to send compressed air to the discharge passage 82, and to prevent this air back feed, the compressor 10 includes a plurality of suction and discharge valves 84, It is common to have 85. With the valves 84 and 85, air flows along the path from the high pressure region to the low pressure region. The valves 84, 85 may be one-way reed valves or poppet valves, and are usually part of the compressor top 18, or a valve plate 86 disposed between the compressor top 18 and the cylinder block 26. , 87.

  In one embodiment, the compressor top 18 includes inlets and outlets 90, 92 that communicate with the inlet and outlet passages 80, 82, respectively. Thus, air is drawn through the inlet 90 into the inlet passage 80 and through the inlet valve 84 into the compression chamber 34 where it is compressed. Similarly, once the air is compressed and sent from the compression chamber 34 through the discharge valve 85 and into the discharge passage 82, the air flows to the air system via the discharge port 92.

  However, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the swash plate housing 20 is provided with a suction port 91, and therefore it is not necessary to provide a suction port at the top 18 of the compressor. In these embodiments, air enters the swash plate chamber 22, cools any bearings, and communicates with the suction passage 80 via a path 93.

  In one advantageous embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, the swash plate 24 has an outer portion 42 and an inner portion 44, the outer portion 42 being an inner portion via a bearing 46. 44 and the inner portion 44 is attached to the drive shaft 40 with a series of pins 48 so that the inner portion 44 rotates with the drive shaft 40. As the drive shaft 40 rotates, the bearing 46 can prevent the outer portion 42 of the swash plate 24 from rotating when the inner portion 44 rotates with the drive shaft 40. Therefore, the outer portion 42, the piston 30 and the cylinder block 26 can be prevented from rotating all. In this arrangement, the drive shaft 40 continues to rotate even when the compressor 10 is not compressing air and the piston 30 is idling. As a result, equipment connected to the drive shaft 40, such as a fuel pump (not shown), continues to function.

  In one embodiment, to prevent the outer portion 42 from rotating, the swash plate 24 engages an axial groove in the housing 20 and is present in the radial direction, as shown in FIG. Contact with the stopper 49. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, a gimbal arm 100 can be used to prevent the outer portion 42 from rotating.

  Referring again to FIGS. 2-3, to facilitate reciprocation of the piston 30 in the piston passage 32, the entire swash plate 24 is at a predetermined angle 140 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 40. Keep the slope of. Since the angle 140 has a predetermined angle, the inclined surface of the swash plate 24 rotates with the rotation of the drive shaft 40. In this manner, the piston 30 reciprocates parallel to the shaft 39 of the drive shaft 40 by the rotational movement of the swash plate 24 around the drive shaft 40.

  In order to enable this reciprocation, the piston 30 is connected to the swash plate 24 via a bearing. In the embodiment described herein, the outer portion of the swash plate 24 includes a plurality of ball links, and each link swash plate rod 52 and ball member 54 are formed of balls. In one embodiment, the rods 52 are bolts that typically have threads at one end that are threaded into the swash plate 24 and spaced radially from one another along the outer perimeter of the swash plate 24. The other end is a nut 58.

  The ball member 54 has a spherical outer surface that slidably engages with a flange 62 of the piston rod 60 that exists parallel to the rotational drive shaft. Therefore, when the inclined plane of the swash plate 24 rotates and the position of the flange 62 changes with respect to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 39 of the drive shaft 40, the common surface of the ball member 54 and the flange 62 becomes Slide against each other. Such a relative movement causes both the piston rod 60 and the ball member 54 to move in the axial direction, while the ball member 54 rotates in the flange 62 according to the rotation angle of the inclination of the swash plate 24. To do. Although the common surface of the ball member 54 and the flange 62 are depicted as tubular, in some embodiments other shapes can be used that move synchronously when moved at a predetermined angle relative to each other. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the bearings that connect the piston 30 to the swash plate 24 may take other shapes.

  As described above, in one advantageous embodiment, the outer swashplate portion 42 is coupled to the inner swashplate portion 44 via a bearing 46, which in turn is connected to the drive shaft. It is attached and fixed to the drive shaft at an angle 140 with respect to 40 longitudinal shafts 39. Thus, the bearing 46 allows the outer portion 42 to not rotate with the inner portion 44 and the drive shaft 40 while the angle of inclination of the outer portion 42 is coupled with the angle of inclination 44 of the inner portion. Rotate. In this way, the piston 30 moves back and forth in the piston passage 32, creating a suction and compression stroke.

  For example, the inner portion 44 can be connected to the drive shaft 40 by a plurality of fasteners such as pins 48 such that the inner portion 44 maintains a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis 39 of the drive shaft 40. It is. In other embodiments, the inner portion 44 may be configured such that, for example, the inner portion 44 is welded to the drive shaft 40 or the drive shaft 40 is formed integrally with the drive shaft 40. By being manufactured, it is fixedly attached to the drive shaft 40.

  In another advantageous embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the swash plate 24 is from a single, non-rotating portion 45 that is directly coupled to the drive shaft 41 so as not to rotate with the drive shaft 41. It may be configured. This can be achieved, for example, by providing a drive shaft 40 with an integrally formed race 43 and by using a bearing body such as a bearing 46.

  In order to eliminate the need for a separate thrust bearing, the bearing 46 is not only a radial load caused by the rotation of the drive shaft 40 relative to at least a portion of the swash plate 24, but also the sliding of the piston 30 in the piston passage 32. It is a bearing that absorbs axial loads resulting from motion. In one advantageous embodiment, the bearing includes an angular contact bearing. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 6a (where a standard radial bearing is depicted) with FIG. 6b (where an angular contact bearing is depicted), an angular contact bearing differs from a standard radial bearing in that the ball 110 can be placed high at one end of the race.

  As depicted in FIGS. 6B-7, this is because one shoulder 112 is higher than the other shoulder 114, and the higher shoulder 112 of the first race 120 is higher than that of the second race 122. This is accomplished by using a race located on the opposite side of the higher shoulder 116. As a result, instead of the ball 110 that contacts the race 120 at an angle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 39 of the drive shaft 40, the ball 110 contacts the race 120 at an angle 126, thus bearing a larger axial load. 46 can be absorbed. This contact angle 126 is a normal contact angle for standard radial bearings, but this contact angle 126 is typically 15, 30 or 40 degrees. However, this contact angle 126 need not necessarily be one of these specific angles.

  However, in other embodiments, the bearing 46 may include any other bearing adapted to absorb both axial and radial loads of the compressor 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the bearing 46 may include a tapered roller bearing. In other embodiments, only slightly more axial load absorption is required, but a four-point bearing can be used as shown in FIG.

  In one advantageous embodiment, the bearing body includes a plurality of side-by-side angular contact bearings, commonly referred to as combination bearings. For example, in one embodiment, the bearing body may include parallel combination bearings, as shown in FIG. 10a. In these embodiments, two angular contact bearings facing in the same direction are located adjacent to each other to increase the level of axial load that the bearing fixture can absorb.

  In other embodiments including combination bearings, such as bearings in which the axial load is in two directions, the bearing body is located adjacent to each other such that the two angular contact bearings face away from each other. Also good. These arrangements help to counteract opposing axial loads and may be useful, for example, in double-acting compressors or two-stage piston compressors. In some embodiments, front combination bearings are used that allow for greater offset angles, as shown in FIG. 10b. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10c, back combination bearings are used that provide higher stiffness.

  In one embodiment, two rows of angular contact bearings are used, as shown in FIG. 10d. In these embodiments, two rows of angular contact bearings are arranged with shoulders located similar to the shoulders of the back combination bearings, but the inner and outer rings 130, 132 each have both A piece across a row of balls.

  In some of these embodiments, the bearing is shielded, as shown in FIG. 10e. In these bearings, shields 134, which may be made of steel, are placed at both ends of the bearings to prevent external material from entering the bearings. In other embodiments, the bearing is sealed, as shown in FIG. 10f. In these embodiments, seals 136 are placed at both ends of the bearing to prevent external materials from entering and to retain the lubricant used in the bearing.

  What has been described above is illustrative and not restrictive, and obvious modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, in order to determine the scope of the invention, reference should be made first to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification.

The perspective view of the swash plate type compressor concerning this invention 1 is a side sectional view of the compressor of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the compressor of FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a swash plate portion of the compressor of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of the drive shaft and swash plate of the compressor of FIG. Partial radial perspective view of a standard radial bearing Partial cross-sectional perspective view of the angular contact bearing of the swash plate of the compressor of FIG. Exposed side view of the ball bearing of FIG. 6b 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a tapered roller bearing used in an embodiment with a swash plate of the compressor of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a four-point support bearing used in one embodiment of the compressor swashplate of FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a parallel combination bearing used in an embodiment with a swash plate of the compressor of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a front combination bearing used in an embodiment with a swash plate of the compressor of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a rear combination bearing used in an embodiment with a swash plate of the compressor of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a two-row angular contact bearing used in an embodiment of the compressor swashplate of FIG. 10d is a cross-sectional side view of a shielded mold two-row angular contact bearing used in an embodiment of the compressor swashplate of FIG. 10d. FIG. 10d is a cross-sectional side view of a sealed mold two-row angular contact bearing used in one embodiment of the compressor swashplate.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Swash plate type compressor 12 Main body 14 Rear attachment cover 16 Front attachment flange 18 Top part of compressor 20 Swash plate housing 22 Swash plate chamber 24 Swash plate 26 Cylinder block 30 Piston 31 Surface to contact with compressed air 32 Piston passage 34 Compression chamber 39 Length axis 40 Drive shaft 41 Drive shaft 42 Outer portion 43 Race 44 Inner portion 45 Non-rotating portion 46 Bearing 48 Pin 49 Stopper 52 Rod 54 Ball member 58 Nut 60 Piston rod 80 Suction passage 82 Discharge passage 84 Suction valve 85 Discharge valve 86 Valve plate 87 Valve plate 90 Suction port 91 Suction port 92 Discharge port 93 Path 100 Gimbal arm 110 Ball 112 Higher shoulder 114 Another shoulder 116 Higher shoulder 120 First shoulder 120 Race 122 2nd Predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the angle 130 inside the ring 132 outside the ring 134 shield portion 136 sealing portion 140 drive shaft of over scan 126 contacts

Claims (26)

housing;
A drive shaft disposed within the housing;
An inner swash plate portion attached to the drive shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft;
An outer swash plate portion connected to the inner swash plate portion; and a bearing body connecting the outer swash plate portion to the inner swash plate portion,
A compressor in which the bearing body absorbs both a radial load and an axial load of the swash plate portion.   The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the inner swash plate portion is formed integrally with the drive shaft.   The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the bearing body includes an angular contact bearing.   The compressor according to claim 3, wherein the bearing body includes a combination bearing.   The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the bearing body includes a parallel combination bearing.   The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the bearing body includes a rear combination bearing.   The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the bearing body includes a front combination bearing.   The compressor according to claim 3, wherein the bearing body includes two rows of angular contact bearings.   The compressor according to claim 8, wherein the bearing body is a shielded two-row bearing.   The compressor according to claim 8, wherein the bearing body is a sealed two-row bearing.   The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the bearing body includes a four-point support bearing.   The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the bearing body includes a tapered roller bearing. housing;
A drive shaft disposed within the housing;
A swash plate coupled to the drive shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; and a bearing body coupling the swash plate to the rotation shaft,
A compressor in which the bearing body absorbs both a radial load and an axial load of the swash plate.   The compressor according to claim 13, wherein the bearing body includes an angular contact bearing.   The compressor according to claim 14, wherein the bearing body includes a combination bearing.   The compressor according to claim 15, wherein the bearing body includes a parallel combination bearing.   The compressor according to claim 15, wherein the bearing body includes a rear combination bearing.   The compressor according to claim 15, wherein the bearing body includes a front combination bearing.   The compressor according to claim 14, wherein the bearing body includes two rows of angular contact bearings.   The compressor according to claim 19, wherein the bearing body is a shielded two-row bearing.   The compressor according to claim 19, wherein the bearing body is a sealed two-row bearing.   The compressor according to claim 13, wherein the bearing body includes a four-point support bearing.   The compressor according to claim 13, wherein the bearing body includes a tapered roller bearing. A housing having at least one piston passage;
A drive shaft disposed within the housing;
A swash plate coupled to the drive shaft;
Connecting the swashplate, tilting at an angle with respect to the direction of operation and being disposed in the at least one piston passage and movable therethrough; and the swashplate on the drive shaft Including the bearing body to be connected,
An angle of the swash plate inclined with respect to the operation direction of the at least one piston has a predetermined angle even when the drive shaft rotates, and the bearing body has a radial load and an axial direction of the swash plate. A compressor that absorbs both loads. housing;
A drive shaft disposed within the housing;
An inner swash plate portion attached to the drive shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft;
An outer swash plate portion connected to the inner swash plate portion; and an angular contact bearing that connects the outer swash plate portion to the inner swash plate portion. housing;
A drive shaft disposed within the housing;
A compressor comprising: a swash plate attached to the drive shaft at a predetermined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; and an angular contact bearing for connecting the swash plate to the drive shaft.

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